Heiligendamm: A White Beauty by the Sea

As is frequently the case, the spirit of a new era is ushered in by initiative of one committed individual. When it comes to the history of German spa-ing, it is said to have been a progressive physician by the name of Samuel Gottlieb Vogel, who had triggered off the lasting success story of sea-side health treatments. The healing effects of a coastal climate and the invigorating properties of salty seawater on skins in desperate need of airing, were promoted by him. And, in order to corroborate his cause, Vogel convinced nobility to act as prominent supporters and forerunners, making Heiligendamm with its tideless shores the premier German spa resort and Friedrich Franz I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin the first-ever guest to use it. That was back in 1793.

Zeitgeist wellness

It those days, bathing in the higher circles was less a matter of boisterously splashing into the floods than one to carefully dip a hesitant toe into mostly chilly waters. Moreover, one must bear in mind that shedding one’s clothes in public was deeply inappropriate. After a brave dunking, full-body swimwear drenched from neck to ankle unfavourably amplified the first shock of a frigid sensation. Yet: a new trend was born which, luckily, developed into a thriving pastime accessible for almost everyone. Spending leisure time by the sea became increasingly fashionable – and still is.

Heiligendamm: like a Phoenix from the ashes

From the very beginning, Heiligendamm attracted European nobility such as the Russian Tsar family, socialites and well-to-do customers, who had the coveted spa spot on their bucket list. The elegant appearance of „The White Town by the Sea“ reliably drew distinguished clientele, until converted into a sanatorium during WWII perforce. After the wall fell and Germany reunified at the end of the 1990s, investors acquired the run-down ensemble, had it refurbished to detail and back to former glory and reopened it as a spa hotel retreat in 2003. The stunning complex has experienced some rocky patches since, changed ownership and management and today once again represents the embodiment of a sophisticated retreat for the discerning cosmopolitan guest.

Heiligendamm with its 300 regular residents is located in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania (dubbed MeckPomm or MV by Germans ) and one of the districts the small town Bad Doberan (approx. 12,000 inhabitants) consists of. The next larger city is Rostock, MV’s capital Schwerin.

As the saying goes, Heiligendamm’s name („Holy Dam“) was minted in the middle ages: the prayers sent to heaven by local monks during heavy floods were answered and – miraculously – a protective dam emerged to break the power of feral waters.